Health department issues well advisories

By News Herald staff

Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 07:08 PM.

PANAMA CITY -- Florida Department of Health in Bay County advises private well owners in flooded areas to take precautions against disease-causing organisms that may be present in well water, a health department release states.

The advisory states, as a precaution: use bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula; bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing, cooking, etc.; and disinfect water by adding eight drops of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, allowing it to stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure.

Use a container that has a cap or cover for disinfecting and storing water to be used for drinking in order to prevent contamination, the release states.

After flooding subsides, disinfect your well and have your water tested by the health department or a state-certified laboratory, the release states. Call 872-4660 or go to floridahealth.gov for more information.

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PANAMA CITY -- Florida Department of Health in Bay County advises private well owners in flooded areas to take precautions against disease-causing organisms that may be present in well water, a health department release states.

The advisory states, as a precaution: use bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula; bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing, cooking, etc.; and disinfect water by adding eight drops of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, allowing it to stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure.

Use a container that has a cap or cover for disinfecting and storing water to be used for drinking in order to prevent contamination, the release states.

After flooding subsides, disinfect your well and have your water tested by the health department or a state-certified laboratory, the release states. Call 872-4660 or go to floridahealth.gov for more information.